Tyler County
Newsletter
Volume 6
February 2016
THE
Tyler County AGENTS’ ADVICE
UPCOMING EVENTS:
st
February 1 – 4H First Monday-Project
Day (Photography)
th
February 5 – 2016 Jasper Women’s
Expo, Christus Hospital
February 8th- Commissioner’s Court
February 10th-Chester Elementary,
Healthy Heart Day
February 11th – Chamber of Commerce
Annual Banquet
February 11th-28th - San Antonio Stock
Show and Rodeo
February 12th-Colmesneil Elementary,
Health Fair
February 12th –San Angelo Heifer Show
February 15th – President’s Day – County
Holiday (All County Offices are closed)
February 18th- 4H County Council
Meeting 6:00pm
February 23rd- Tyler County Bee Keeper’s
Association Meeting, Nutrition Center
February 24th- Deadline for 4H District
Photography Entries through 4H Connect
March 1st-Breakfast CEU’s @7:00am,
Extension Office
March 8th-When Sean Speaks
presentation for all county 11th/12th
graders. 8am-12pm
March 1st-20th- Houston Livestock Show
and Rodeo
March 25th- Good Friday, County Holiday
(All County Offices are closed)
Tyler County Extension Agents
Post Season-Deer Census
Now that deer season is over,
many hunters pack up the
deer feeder and don’t think
about their stand for several
months. However, there are
still a few things we can do to
improve our hunting
experiences for years to
come. One of those things is
conducting a post-season
deer census. Much like the
preseason deer census, it can
be conducted in a variety of
ways. But, the purpose is to
evaluate the number of deer
using your property and to
estimate the buck to doe ratio.
Since most of us are
interested in large antlers, we
should look at doing the things
that are going to encourage
our deer, as a herd, to grow
larger antlers. There are three
main factors that affect antler
growth, age, nutrition, and
genetics. Having a stable buck
to doe ratio is one of the
things we can do to increase
the average age of our deer
herd. Typically a buck’s
largest antlers are going to
be the set that he will grow
between the ages of 5 ½
and 6 ½ years. However,
many of our deer don’t
reach anywhere near that
age, as they are harvested
well before hand. When
conducting a post season
census, the general
accepted goal, is to
increase age that would in
turn increase antler size and
produce a buck to doe ratio
of 1:1. Depending on
management techniques
and supplemental feeding
programs, that may not be a
real possibility. But until you
know how many deer you
have on your property, you
won’t know your ratio. So,
instead of managing for
deer, you are just hunting
and hoping for a big one to
walk out. I’d certainly
encourage you to continue
to use supplemental feed for
your deer population to
maintain body mass and
nutrition thru the rest of the
winter months. Now is also a
good time to plan for next
hunting season. Once you
know your ratio, you can
discuss what your goals as a
hunter should be for next
season. I would think it’s a
good plan to know that
everyone hunting on a given
property has the same goals
for that property. If the desire
is to have big bucks in the long
term, that may require a few
seasons of controlling inferior
deer while the herd ages. That
can’t happen unless everyone
is on the same page. While we
may think of taking a break
from the woods, now is not the
time to forget about deer
entirely. Another plus of
conducting that deer census…
the next few weeks will be the
perfect time to find an antler
shed hiding in the thicket!
$ Finding Great Buys at Dollar Stores $
With the cost of food going up, many of us are looking for ways to save money on groceries.
Planning meals in advance, comparing prices and shopping with a list are helpful tools. Also,
more people are searching the aisles of dollar stores for food bargains. Here are a few Tips that
can help you get the best food buys for your dollar-store buck.
$Know the foods offered at your dollar and discount stores. $Don’t be afraid to try brands you
don’t know. $Know your prices. $Check the package size. $Watch for expiration dates.
$Read food labels so you know what you are buying.
Kelly Jobe, Family & Consumer Science
Jacob Spivey, Agriculture/Natural Resource
No doubt you will find some great deals, just make sure your bargain is worth the cost!
Tyler County
Newsletter
Volume 6
February 2016
What’s in Season? Chocolate!!
For more information on
SNAP-Ed, contact your
local county Extension
office. Better Living for
Texans is located in over
200 counties across the
state.
Texas A&M AgriLife
Extension Service and
Better Living for Texans
programs are available to
all without discrimination.
Educational programs of the
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Service are open to all people
without regard to race, color, sex,
religion, national origin, age,
disability, genetic information, or
veteran status. The Texas A&M
University System, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, and
the County Commissioners
Courts of Texas Cooperating
With Valentine’s Day
approaching, a cup of hot
cocoa or a bite of rich, dark
chocolate seems that much
more appealing. Chocolate
actually has several health
benefits, so read on to find
out why it is okay to
indulge your craving. #1- It
is ALMOST a diet food.
Preliminary test tube
research shows that
Natural Cocoa, which is
loaded in flavonols, MIGHT
limit the number of
calories you actually take
in during digestion, thus
preventing some fats and
starches in other food from
being absorbed! (We can
only hope they find it
works in humans!) #2- It’s
Heart Healthy- A large
study out of Harvard
(2010) found that women
who ate 1 or 2 ounces of
chocolate a week had a
week had a 32% lower risk
of heart failure women
who didn’t eat any
chocolate. This is due to
the antioxidant effects
such as helping to prevent
artery-threatening LDL
cholesterol from converting to
a more lethal, oxidized form.
#3- It makes you smile!! – Just
the sight of chocolate can
evoke a smile, according to a
recent British survey. 60% of
women ranked chocolate as
the most smile-worthy
experience, edging out loved
ones and other smiling people.
(FYI, the top pick for men was
a Sunday Roast!!) #4-It Helps
You See Better-Researchers
found that participants who
ate dark chocolate had
significantly better night vision
than when they ate white
chocolate. They have linked
this to the flavonols
(antioxidants) present in dark
chocolate. Now, please do not
take these benefits as passport
to OVER indulge in this
luscious confection! There are
cons. Here are a few things to
take into consideration when
choosing the chocolate that is
right for you. #1- Not all
chocolate is created equal. The
key factor is the more
processed the cocoa, the less
health benefit it has. So, when
buying cocoa, look for Natural
cocoa so that the beneficial
antioxidants have not been
stripped during processing.
#2- Chocolate is High in
Calories- Just 1 ounce delivers
160 calories, thanks to the
sugar and cocoa butter that
get added to it. So, choose
Chocolate with a high cacao
(pronounced ku-cow)
content, 70% or higher. It is
more intensely flavored, thus
satisfying your craving in
fewer bites. #3-Chocolate
Contains Caffeine- If you are
sensitive to caffeine or trying
to limit your intake, keep in
mind that 1 ounce of
chocolate has 23mg of
caffeine, but a whole bar
delivers up to 100mg- the
equivalence to a cup of coffee.
Here’s hoping your
Sweetheart has your health in
mind this year!
Monthly Recipe: Dark Chocolate Fondue
Ingredients
Contact Us:
Tyler County Extension
201 Veteran’s Way
Woodville, Texas 75979
Phone: (409)283-8284
Fax: (409)331-0015
Emails: (FCS) [email protected]
(AG/NR) [email protected]
website: www.tyler.agrilife.org
Facebook: Tyler County Agrilife Extension
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1 cup heavy cream
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate morsels
1 (12-ounce) package milk chocolate morsels
For dipping: sliced apples, bananas, strawberries, crisp cookies, pretzels, and
cubed pound cake
Directions
In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine cream and butter. Bring mixture to a
simmer, stirring constantly. Remove pan from heat. Add semisweet and milk chocolate
morsels. Stir until melted and smooth. Cool slightly. Transfer to a fondue pot, chafing
dish, or ceramic bowl. Serve immediately with sliced apples, sliced bananas,
strawberries, cookies, pretzels, and pound cake.
Source: foodnetwork.com